Lenfell

Lenfell is a fictional world portrayed in Melanie Rawn's Exiles Series. The capital of Lenfell is Ryka Court, and the land is divided into Shirs. It is a federal system governed by the Council, which seats a representative from every Shir, and is led by the First Councillor.

One of the defining events in Lenfell's history was the Waste Wars, in which two factions of magic, the Malerrisi and the Mage Guardians, fought and set loose cataclysmic magic. The resulting outburst of magic let loose upon the world caused many deaths and birth defects that lasted for generations. It was this war that defined status, creating the Bloods and Tiers.

The Malerrisi and the Mage Guardians continue to be antagonistic.

Lenfell is a corruption of the term "Land-fall" used by the early, Catholic refugee settlers of the world.

Lenfell's society is a matriarchal society, and magic is very much a part of their heritage and history.

Contents

Bloods - The Bloods are in essence the ruling class of Lenfell. During the defining First Census, a family with the least amount of birth defects was granted Blood Status. As with all families, Bloods have two colours for their Name, but they are also given a gold Sigil to mark their status.

Tiers - Originally there were five tiers, Firsts and Seconds being the highest next to Bloods. The Thirds and Fourths are in the lower echelon of Lenfell's society. Over time, the Fifth Tier - the one with the most genetic anomalies - died out. First and Second Tier Names also have sigils, Silver for Firsts, and Copper for Seconds.

Various families and their Tiers are listed below. A complete list can be found here.

Name

Tier

Shir

Sigil

Colors

Ambrai

Blood

Ambraishir

octagon

black/turquois

Rosvenir

Second

Dindenshir

crossed daggers

dark grey/turquois

Rille

Third

Domburronshir

---

grey/green

Feiran

First

Ambraishir

leaf crown

green/grey

Liwellan

Blood

Sheve

hawk

blue/turquois

Ostin

Blood

Waste

oak tree

grey/orange

Slegin

Blood

Sheve

rose crown

blue/yellow

As the importance of women increased, men lost prominence and all power in the aftermath of the Waste Wars. After a time, men became akin to slaves in society's eyes. A Tierless woman is considered above a man. First Daughters can marry their male family members off for political and business gains. A man is supposed to lower his eyes for women and always wear coifs in public to cover their hair. The prestige, power, and political influence a woman can have is often based on her Tier. A man of a higher Tier will be saught after for a consort to enrich/preserve a bloodline.

The Tier system was seemingly abolished upon the marriage of the Lady Glenin Feiran (nee Ambrai) to Garon Anniyas. Although officially there are no more Bloods or Tiers, the people of Lenfell have long memories of their status and that of others.

The Rising is the rebellion formed in large part by the Ostins. The Rising opposes the growing power of the First Councillor, the Tier system, and the unfair treatment of men. The introduction of mandatory identity disks greatly strengthens the ranks of the rebellion. The disks stated the name and Tier of its owner and were required to be worn at all times.

The Rising uses a matrix of communications created by Sarra Liwellan to keep members safe from traitors. A similar system comprised of minstrels is organized by Collan Rosvenir to gather information.